Method and product for attaining a french manicure using a dry nail appliqué

ABSTRACT

A dry nail tip appliqué for applying nail enamel to a nail tip. The nail tip appliqué is configured to conform to the size and shape of a respective nail tip and allows for a convenient and neat application of a French-style manicure.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/866,678, filed Oct. 3, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/543,481, filed Oct. 5, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/126,862, filed May 11, 2005, and which claims domestic priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/570,713, filed May 12, 2004. The disclosures of all of the above-identified patent applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The current invention relates generally to the field of nail polish, more specifically, to a novel method and apparatus for attaining a French-style manicure using an instant dry film nail polish application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of an instant fingernail coating product whereby nail polish is applied to a fingernail by adhesively securing to it a dry form of nail polish has become a preferred mode of attaining a manicure by many users. Such dry nail polish products are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,903,840 and 5,415,903, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The nail coating product, or instant nail polish referenced above, confers numerous advantages over conventional, prior art nail polish applied with a brush in a liquid form. The application of instant nail polish is faster, easier and cleaner than conventional nail polish and does not suffer from the numerous encumbrances associated with wet nail polish such as drying time and the concern of smearing or smudging.

However, the previous dry nail coating products are not well adapted to applying a French-style manicure, wherein the tips of nails are coated with an enamel of a color that is different from the rest of the nail. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,840 discloses a dry nail coating application that is pre-printed with a design or a different color tip portion. Attaining a French-manicure with the pre-printed configuration is difficult, requires precision and is prone to imperfection. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 543,481 discloses a novel nail appliqué in which a single nail appliqué is divisible into two separate portions—one to coat the entirety of a nail and a second one to coat only the nail's tip. It would be desirable, however, to fashion a nail tip coating appliqué that is a separate member, independent and apart from a nail coating appliqué.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a novel French-style dry nail coating appliqué and a method of applying the same wherein a tip portion is configured as a separate, independent member that is adapted to coating the tip of a nail. This allows for the easy and neat application of a dry, French-style manicure, which presents an improvement upon the pre-printed configuration of the prior art, and is independently useful for applying French tips.

The inventive nail tip coating appliqué (“nail tip appliqué” herein) comprises a substantially crescent or rounded dry nail product. After applying a dry nail coating of liquid nail polish to a fingernail, the separate nail tip appliqué described herein is then utilized to add a second coat to the nail's tip. Preferably, the nail tip application is of a different color or shade from that of the rest of the nail. The rounded curvature of the inventive nail tip appliqué is adapted to conform to the rounded shape and size of a nail tip. Alternatively, the nail tip appliqué is applied first, and then a sheer overlay sheet is applied to cover both the applied nail tip appliqué and the rest of the nail, wherein the sheer overlay sheet may be clear, pink, nude, or other similar translucent and/or light shades, and functions like a clear enamel top coat. Another alternative application process includes applying a full nail appliqué (i.e., one that covers the entire fingernail) having a first color, and then applying a nail tip appliqué having a second color over the full nail appliqué, thereby achieving a combination two-color effect.

Numerous advantages are realized with the inventive nail tip appliqué. The application of a French manicure using liquid nail polish entails applying a first coating of polish over the entire surface of a nail and waiting for the first coat to dry before applying a second coat of nail polish in a fine, neat strip across the tip of the nail. This process is time consuming, requites dexterity and is expensive when done at a nail salon. The nail tip appliqués described herein mitigates these problems with an easy tip coating applicator that requires minimal drying time, is pre-cut to conform to the shape of a nail tip and is easy to apply. The nail tip appliqué could be used on nails coated with ordinary liquid nail polish or with the dry nail coating products referenced herein.

Additional advantages associated with the invention include the achievement of a perfect curvature or “smile lines” as a result of the pre-cut nail tip appliqués, whereas a user would otherwise have to paint and shape each nail tip, using both her left and right hands. Each finger may have differing widths, which can complicate such painting and shaping.

Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a nail tip with a beautiful opaque color that is applied in a neat, even manner, thereby avoiding the streaking and/or uneven coating encountered when liquid nail polish is used for creating nail tips.

Yet another advantage of the invention is that a user may simply apply the nail tip appliqués, leave them on her nails, and not have anything to remove. This process is simpler and more efficient than the known use of guiding tapes in connection with liquid nail polish, wherein tape is applied to the nails, nail tips are polished with liquid polish, and the tape is thereafter removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a plurality of nail tip appliqués which are attached to a strip of nail appliqués, the nail tip appliqués being constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the plurality of nail tip appliqués shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top view of one of the nail tip appliqués;

FIG. 4A is a top view of a finger nail coated with a nail coating;

FIG. 4B is a top view of a nail tip appliqué placed on the finger nail shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is a top view of the nail tip appliqué shown in FIG. 4B, the portion of the nail tip appliqué extending beyond the finger nail being sheared off by another finger nail;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with diagonal shapes,

FIG. 5A is a top view of a nail tip appliqué with a diagonal shape, as shown in FIG. 5, placed on a finger nail;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a top view of a strip of nail tip appliqués with shapes that are different than the shapes shown in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The following is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the drawings in which the same reference numerals identify the same elements of structure in each of the several figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, a strip of nail appliqués 10 similar, or identical to those referenced above herein is accompanied by a plurality of the inventive nail tip appliqués 12. Each nail tip appliqué 12 contains a section that is rounded or curved 14 and therefore adapted to conform to the shape of a nail tip. In a preferred embodiment a series of nail tip appliqués 12 is fixed to a backing sheet of material 16 and the appliqués are separated from one another by way of a kiss cut 18. The kiss cut, which perforates the nail tip appliquébut not the underlying backing, allows for nail tip appliqués 12 to be removed from the backing 16 on an individual basis. Preferably, strips of material that is in communication with nail tip appliqués function as a tabs 17, which can be pulled to facilitate the removal of nail tip appliqué12 from their backing 16.

In an embodiment, a thin sheet of backing material such as paper, for example, is coated with an adhesive coating. A uniform layer of partially cured nail polish material in the general shapes of nail tips is deposited on the backing material forming a film of nail polish. When the film of nail polish or nail appliquéis removed from the backing, it has an adhesive surface, which can be adhesively secured to a fingernail by placing it and pressing on the nail.

It is anticipated that the inventive nail tip appliquécan be produced using the formulations and methods of manufacture described in the patents and patent disclosures incorporated by reference herein. The nail tip appliquémentioned herein refers to the finished nail coating product comprising nail polish material and an adhesive means which is sized and shaped to substantially conform to the rounded edge of a fingernail tip.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of nail appliqués 10 and a plurality of nail tip appliqués 12 are removably affixed to a common paper backing 16. However, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a strip of nail tip appliqués 12 can be produced, packaged and sold independent of nail appliqués 10.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of nail tip appliqués are secured to a paper backing in a substantially linear fashion such that the convex-like border 22 of one tip coating abuts the concave-like border 20 of an adjacent tip coating 19. In an embodiment, the concave 20 and convex 22 portions are defined by a kiss cut 18. In one embodiment, a plurality of tip coatings disposed in a linear configuration accompanies a plurality of nail coatings, preferably with the nail coatings 10 and tip coatings 12 sharing a common backing.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of nail tip appliqués are cut, each having varying degrees of curvature 14, preferably substantially corresponding to the varying curvatures of the various fingernails.

Referring to FIG. 3, a single nail tip appliqué is preferably a crescent-like shaped strip that has a substantially concave-like edge 20 and an opposing substantially convex-like edge 22 which respectively comprise the top and bottom borders of the strip. The sides of the strip are preferably delineated by straight-cut edges 24 that are substantially parallel to each other. The sides 24, and therefore the depth of the strip, are preferably about a halt of an inch. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that a nail tip appliquécan be configured in any of various sizes and shapes so long as it possesses a rounded section that is adapted to substantially conform to the curvature of a respective fingernail tip.

Alternatively, with reference to FIGS. 5-16, the nail tip appliqués can be configured in any of various sizes and shapes other than the crescent-like shape of FIG. 3. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates a strip of nail tip appliqués 34 which have diagonal-shaped borders, and a common paper backing 36. Unlike the common paper backing 16 having a linear arrangement of nail tip appliqués, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the common paper backing 36 of the strip of nail tip appliqués 34 shown in FIG. 5 is shaped to include a plurality of projections 38-52, which vary in size. One pair of nail tip appliqués (i.e., 54A/B; 56A/B; 58A/B; 60A/B; 62A/B; 64A/B; 66A/B; and 68A/B) is releasably fastened to each of the respective projections 38-52, wherein nail tip appliqués are provided for corresponding fingers of a user's two hands. For example, the largest projection 38 is sized to support the pair of large nail tip appliqués 54A and 54B, one of which is applied to a nail on a user's right hand (e.g., right thumbnail), and the other one of which is applied to a corresponding nail on the user's left hand (e.g., left thumbnail).

The nail tip appliqués 54A and 54B have diagonal-shaped borders 70A, 70B, respectively. The nail tip appliqués 54A and 54B disposed on the projection 38 are separated by a kiss cut, which is coincident with the border 70B. It should be understood that the present disclosure of the nail tip appliqués 54A and 54B disposed on projection 38 is also applicable to the other seven pairs of nail tip appliqués that are disposed on projections 40-52.

As can be seen on FIGS. 5-16, the nail tip nail appliqués can be configured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. It should be understood that the present disclosure of the strip of nail tip appliqués 34 illustrated in FIG. 5 is also applicable to each of the strips of nail tip appliqués illustrated in FIGS. 6-16.

The strip of nail tip appliqués 34 includes a strip of tabs 72 proximate to nail tip appliqués 54B, 56B, 58B, 60B, 62B, 64B, 66B, and 68B, which functions like the strip of tabs 17 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. More particularly, the tabs 72 can be pulled to facilitate the removal of nail tip appliqués 54B, 56B, 58B, 60B, 62B, 64B, 66B, and 68B from the backing 36. In an embodiment, the strip of nail tip appliqués 34 has another strip of tabs (not shown) proximate to nail tip appliqués 54A, 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A, 64A, 66A, and 68A, and which operate like the tabs 72 to facilitate the removal of nail tip appliqués 54A, 56A, 58A, 60A, 62A, 64A, 66A, and 68A from the backing 36. While not illustrated in FIGS. 6-16, the strips of nail tip appliqués depicted in such figures may also include one or two proximate strips of tabs.

Referring to FIG. 5A, a finger nail is shown with a nail tip appliqué54A applied thereto. The diagonal border 70A of the nail tip appliqué54A is also depicted as positioned on the finger nail.

Nail tip appliqués can be utilized by wearers of traditional liquid nail polish, for example, as an easier, neater and more convenient way of applying a French tip. Additionally, people who wish to have their nails done at a nail salon, but do not want to spend time waiting for two applications of polish to dry, can buy a strip of nail tip appliqués for self-applying French tips.

In FIG. 4, a single nail tip appliqué12 is removed from its paper backing 16. Beginning with a nail that has already been coated with a nail coating, via a dry application or otherwise, (see FIG. 4A), the nail tip appliquéis secondarily placed on a portion of a nail tip to be coated 28 (see FIG. 4B). The nail tip appliquéis adhesively secured to the fingernail tip by firmly pressing on it. Any portion that may extend beyond the edge of the nail 30 is easily removed by shearing it, for example, with another fingernail 32 (see FIG. 4C) or with a shearing instrument.

Alternatively, the nail tip appliqué could be applied first and a coating of the rest of the nail (including the tip portion) could be applied secondarily.

Having described this invention with regard to specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation since further modifications and variations may be apparent or may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the present application cover all such modifications and variation as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A self-adhesive nail tip appliquéproduct for providing a French-style nail tip coating, said product comprising: shearable nail polish material; said dry nail polish material having adhesive material on at least one surface; said dry nail polish material being removably affixed to a backing; wherein said nail tip appliquéproduct comprises a strip having at least a substantially concave shaped free edge said concave shaped free edge being in the general shape of a nail tip and substantially conforms to the curvature of a nail tip, said nail tip appliquéused to apply nail polish to a nail tip in order to achieve a French manicure, said nail tip appliquéfurther comprising straight-cut side edges, said side edges being substantially parallel to each other, said strip being larger than a wearer's nail tip, whereby an area of said strip that extends beyond a wearer's nail tip is shearable.
 2. The product of claim 1 further comprising a substantially convex edge, said convex edge being disposed substantially opposite of said concave edge.
 3. The product of claim 2, wherein a plurality of said appliqués is aligned in a substantially linear manner wherein a substantially concave shaped edge of one strip abuts a substantially convex edge of an adjacent strip.
 4. The product of claim 3, wherein said plurality of strips are separated from one another by kiss cuts, said kiss cuts allowing for selective removal of one strip from said backing.
 5. The product of claim 1 wherein a plurality of nail tip appliqués and a plurality of nail appliqués are removably affixed to a common backing. 